Tool and method for re-arching leaf springs



p 10, 1968 J. R. MORRIS 3,400,565

TOOL AND METHOD FOR RIB-ARCHING LEAF SPRINGS Filed March 2. 1966 FIG. I FIG.2

INVENTOR JIMMIE R. MORRIS ATTORNEY United States Patent TOOL AND METHOD FOR RE-ARCHING LEAF SPRINGS Jimmie Ray Morris, 103 Maurice St., Jonesboro, Ark. 72401 Filed Mar. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 531,215 3 Claims. (Cl. 72175) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Leaf spring re-arching tool and method for re-arching damaged leaf springs. The tool includes three rollers carried in opposed frame members. The rollers are arranged in a triangular pattern. One of the rollers is moved toward the other two, to apply pressure on a damaged leaf spring inserted between the'rollers and re-arch the leaf spring. The pressure roller can be disassembled so that the tool can be placed on a spring mounted on a vehicle. The roller is then re-assembled so that the spring can be re-arched without necessity for dismounting the spring. Rotation of either of the other two rollers moves the tool along the spring so that pressure can be applied along the spring to facilitate reformation into the desired arch.

This invention pertains to metal forming apparatus and more particularly, to tools or implements for re-arching leaf springs and the like.

A main object of the invention is the provision of an im proved tool for reforming a damaged leaf spring into the desired configuration or arch.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved tool for reaching motor vehicle leaf springs, which tool will be highly portable and require only manual power for operation.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved tool which can be utilized to re-arch a damager leaf spring without removing the spring from assembly with the apparatus which is cushioned by the spring. I

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration only and notfor definition of the limits of the invention. For determining the scope of the invention, reference can be made to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,

.FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a tool which forms a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical cross section taken along section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation of the tool of FIGURE 1; V I

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational View of the tool of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a detailed showing in horizontal cross section, of a preferred arrangement for mounting a roller means in a frame member.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and with particular reference to FIGURE 1, a tool which forms a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown as comprising a first frame member and a second frame member 12 in mutually spaced, generally parallel relationship. First roller means generally indicated at 14 and second roller means generally indicated at 16, in mutually spaced relationship, are disposed, with their rotational axes generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the frame members 10 and 12, to extend between the frame members.

According to the invention, first roller means 14 has a first end generally indicated at 18, carried by the first frame member 10 and secured against transverse movement with respect to frame member 10. First roller means 14 also has a second end generally indicated at 20, carried by second frame member 12 and secured against transverse movement with respect to the second frame member. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, first roller means 14 includes a shaft 22 having a first end portion 24 rotatably received in first frame member 10 and a second end portion 26 rotatably received in frame member 12. First roller means 14 also includes an annular sleeve 23 disposed about shaft 22. Annular sleeve 28 preferably has a knurled outer peripheral surface 30, for purposes to be described shortly. Locking pin means 32 which, as best seen in FIGURE 2, are in tight friction engagement with the walls of aligned apertures in sleeve 28 and shaft 22 are provided for preventing rotation of sleeve 28 about shaft 22.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, shaft 22 takes the form of a bolt which has a head 34 which forms a projection of shaft 22 beyond frame member .12, which may be gripped by a wrench or the like for rotating shaft 22 to roll the tool along a leaf spring. Nut 36 secures the shaft 22 in the assembly. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, an anti-friction bearing means, a roller hearing or ball bearing, rotatably receives end portion 26 of shaft 22 in frame member 12 for facilitating rotation of shaft 22 in the frame member, as is best seen in FIGURE 5. In FIGURE 5, the antifriction bearing means takes the form of roller bearing 38. Similar antifriction bearing means (not shown) are provided in frame member 10, to rotatably receive end portion 24 of shaft 22.

The construction of second roller means 16 is very similar to that of first roller means 14. Second roller means 16 has a first end portion generally indicated at 40, carried by first frame member 10 and secured against transverse movement with respect to the frame member. Second roller means 16 has a second end portion generally indicated at 42, carried by second frame member 12 and secured against transverse movement with respect to the second frame member. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, second roller means 16 includes shaft 44 having a first end portion 46 rotatably received in frame member 10, and a second end portion 48 rotatably received in second frame member 12.

Second roller means 16 also includes an annular sleeve 50 disposed about shaft 44, and locking pin means 54 for preventing rotation of sleeve 50 about shaft 44. Annular sleeve 50 has a knurled outer peripheral surface 52. In the preferred embodiment shown, shaft 44, like shaft 22, takes the form of a bolt. Head 56 on the bolt which forms shaft 44 provides a projection beyond frame member 12 which may be gripped for rotating the shaft. Nut 58 retains shaft 44 in the assembly. Roller bearing means (not shown) rotatably receives the end portions 46 and 48 of shaft 44 in frame members 10 and 12, respectively, for facilitating rotation of the shafts in the frame members. The roller bearing means are arranged in a fashion similar to that shown in FIGURE 5 with respect to roller bearing means 38.

According to the invention, third roller means, generally indicated at 60, is disposed in spaced relationship with respect to the first roller means 14 and second roller means 16, and extends between frame members 10 and 12. As shown, the rotational axis of the third roller means is in generally parallel relationship With the rotational axes of the first and second roller means. The rotational axes. of the three roller means are in generally triangular relationship in a plane generally parallel to the frame members, as is best seen in FIGURE 2. Third roller means 60 has a first end portion generally indicated at 62 and a second end portion generally indicated at 64, best seen in FIGURE 4.

The third roller means 60 includes a shaft 66 having a first end portion 70 and a second end portion 68, best seen in FIGURE 4. Third roller means 60 also includes an annular sleeve 72, detachable from and rotatably disposed about shaft 66. In the preferred embodiment, third roller means 60 also includes antifriction bearing means disposed between shaft 66 and annular sleeve 72, for facilitating rotation of the sleeve on the shaft. These means take the form of ball bearings 74, provided at each end of the annular sleeve 72.

According to the invention, first guide means associated with first frame member are provided, for guiding the third roller means 60 transversely with respect to the first frame member 10 in a direction generally perpendicular to the first and second roller means 14 and 16. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the first guide means comprises an elongated slot 76 in first frame member 10. Elongated slot 76 extends across frame member 10 and between the first end portions 18 and 40 of first and second roller means 14 and 16 respectively, as shown. Similarly, second guide means are provided associated with the second frame member 12 for guiding the third roller means 60 transversely with respect to the second frame member 12, in the same direction generally perpendicularly to the first roller means 14 and the second roller means 16, in which third roller means 60 was guided by the first guide means. In the preferred embodiment, the second guide means comprises an elongated slot 78 in second frame member 12. Elongated slot 78 extends across frame member 12 and between the second end portions and 42 of first roller means 14 and second roller means 16 respectively as is best shown in FIG- URE 3.

According to the invention, the first end portion 62 of third roller means 60 is in removable, slidable relationship with second guide means 78. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, first end portion 70 of shaft 66 is removably, slidably received in elongated slot 76 in first frame member 10, and second end portion 68 of shaft 66 is removably, slidably received in elongated slot 78 in second frame member 12.

In apparatus made pursuant to the principles of the invention, movable means carried by the frame members are provided, for moving the third roller means along the guide means to exert pressure on a leaf spring placed between the third roller means and the first and second roller means, and for moving the third roller means along the guide means to relieve that pressure. In the embodiment illustrated, the movable means take the form of first bolt means 80, which extends generally parallel to the elongated slot 76 into engagement with third roller means 60 at the first end portion 62 thereof. The movable means also includes second bolt means 82, which extends generally parallel to elongated slot 78 into engagement with third roller means 60 at the second end portion 64 thereof.

In accordance with the principles of the invention, support means are provided, fixedly associated with the frame members, for supporting the movable means on the frame members. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, these support means include first sleeve means 84 fixedly associated as by Welding, brazing or the like, with first frame member 10 at a location between the first end portions 18 and 40 of the first and second roller means 14 and 16 respectively. The support means also include second sleeve means 86, fixedly associated with second frame member 12 at a location between the second end portions 20 and 42 of the first and second roller means. The sleeve means are preferably disposed in the elongated slots in the frame members and the bolt means extend through the sleeve means and longitudinally through the elongated slots into engagement with the shaft 66, as shown. In the preferred apparatus, first bolt means 80 is threadedly engaged in shaft 66 in aperture 69, at first end portion 70 of the shaft, and second bolt means 82 is threadedly engaged in shaft 66 in aperture 71 at second end portion 68. Thus, by turning bolt means and 82 the third roller means 60 will move along the guide means toward or away from the first and second roller means 14 and 16, depending upon direction of rotation of the bolt means. Bolt means 80 may be rotated by gripping head 88 with a wrench or the like, and applying torque. Similarly, torque may be applied to bolt means 82 by gripping head 90 with a wrench, to rotate the bolt. Suitable washers 92 and 94 are preferably disposed beneath the heads of the respective bolts, to facilitate rotation thereof. 1

Although re-arching tools provided by the invcntio can be used to re-arch leaf springs which are utilized to cushion any type of apparatus, conveyance or the like, the tools are particularly useful in the re-arching of damaged motor vehicle leaf springs. Accordingly, the use and operation of re-arching tools made pursuant to the principles of the invention will be explained with reference to replacing the desired configuration or arch in a damaged automotive leaf spring.

To re-arch a damaged vehicle leaf spring while the spring remains mounted in the vehicle, the tool is disassembled by unscrewing bolt means 80 and 82 from threaded engagement with shaft 66. Shaft 66 is then removed from the assembly by extraction through slot 76 or slot 78. With shaft 66 removed, sleeve 72 is withdrawn from between frame members 10 and 12.

The tool may then be placed over the damaged spring, with the spring being disposed between the frame members and moved into engagement with first and second roller means 14 and 16. Annular sleeve 72 is then replaced between the frame members. Shaft 66 is re-inserted through one of the elongated slots, through annular sleeve 72 and into the other elongated slot. Bolt means 80 and 82 are then threaded into shaft 66.

With the damaged leaf spring located wtih the third roller means 60 on one side, and the first and second roller means 14 and 16 on the other side, rotation of bolt means 80 and 82 will move the third roller means along the guide means toward the first and second roller means, and exert pressure against the damaged spring. The spring is thus pressed or formed into the desired configuration or arch between the roller means.

The arching tool may be moved along the damaged spring by rotating either shaft 22 or shaft 44 by placing a wrench or the like on head 34 or head 56 and applying torsional force. The knurled surfaces on the outer peripheries of annular sleeves serve to grip the spring member, so that the device may be rolled along the spring to any desired location. Thus, by applying pressure to the spring at various locations along the spring, a damaged leaf spring can be conformed to the desired configuration or arch.

Leaf spring re-arching devices according to the invention can also be utilized to re-arch springs that have been removed from assembly with the vehicle or other apparatus. In this event, there is no need to disassemble the arching tool. The tool is simply slid onto the damaged spring with the spring between the first and second roller means on one side and the third roller means on the other. The belt means are tightened, and the tool operated in the same manner as discussed above.

Spring re-arching devices made according to the invention are simple, effective tools for the repair of damaged leaf springs. Since operation requires only manual power, the tools are highly portable and can be utilized for field maintenance work in locations far removed from maintenance shops. Tools made according to the principles of the invention are highly advantageous in that they can be rapidly disassembled and reassembled on a spring still mounted on a vehicle, for re-arching of a damaged leaf spring in place. Thus, the time-consuming and laborious process of removing a spring from its assembly in a vehicle or the like is avoided. Finally, re-arching devices made according to the invention are relatively simple and economical to fabricate and are rugged and durable in use.

What is claimed is: 1. A leaf spring re-arching tool, comprising first and second spaced-apart frame members, first, second and third spaced-apart roller means extending between the frame members, the roller means having longitudinal axes, the longitudinal axes of the roller means being disposed in triangular relationship, the first and second roller means having end portions mounted in the frame members, means defining opposed, elongated guide slots in the frame members, the guide slots extending in a direction generally perpendicular to and intersecting a line between the longitudinal axes of the first and second roller means, each guide slot having a width dimension transverse to said direction, the third roller means including a shaft having a diameter not greater than the width of at least one of the guide slots, the shaft having opposite end portions removably axially slidably in the guide slots, the third roller means also including an annular sleeve detachably mounted on the shaft, the sleeve having a diameter greater than the width of each guide slot, movable pressure means carried by the frame members for moving the third roller means along the guide slots to apply and relieve pressure on a damaged leaf spring inserted between the third roller means and the first and second roller means, and support means carried by the frame members for supporting the pressure means on the frame members, the third roller means including means rotatably mounting the sleeve on the shaft, the frame members including means rotatably mounting the end portions of the first and second roller means, at least one of the first and second roller means including an axial projection extending beyond at least one frame member, the axial projection including means defining a gripping surface for application of torque to move the tool along the leaf spring. 2. As a new use of a tool including spaced-apart frame members first, second and third spaced-apart roller means extending between the frame members, the roller means having longitudinal axes, the longitudinal axes of the roller means being disposed in triangular relationship, the first and second roller means having end portions mounted in the frame members, at least one of the first and second roller means including an axial projection extending beyond at least one frame member, and movable pressure means for moving the third roller means toward and away from the first and second roller means in a direction generally perpendicular to and intersecting a line between the longitudinal axes of the first and second roller means,

a method of re-arching a damaged leaf spring, comprising inserting a damaged leaf spring between the third roller means and the first and second roller means,

operating the pressure means to move the third roller means toward the first and second roller means,

thereby applying pressure to the leaf spring and rearching the leaf spring,

gripping and rotating the axial projection,

thereby rotating the associated roller means and moving the tool along the leaf spring, and

operating the pressure means to move the third roller means away from the first and second roller means,

thereby relieving the pressure.

3. As a new use of a tool including spaced-apart frame members first, second and third spaced-apart roller means extending between the frame members,

the roller means having longitudinal axes,

the longitudinal axes of the roller means being disposed in triangular relationship,

the first and second roller means having end portions mounted in the frame members,

movable pressure means for moving the third roller means toward and away from the first and second roller means in a direction generally perpendicular IO and intersecting a line between the longitudinal axes of the first and second roller means, and

elongated, opposed guide slots in the frame members for guiding the third roller means,

the third roller means including a shaft and an annular sleeve detachably mounted on the shaft,

the pressure means operatively engaging the shaft,

a method for reaching a damaged leaf spring mounted on a vehicle, comprising disengaging the pressure means from the shaft,

extracting the shaft through one of the guide slots,

extracting the annular sleeve from between the frame members in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the third roller means,

placing the tool over the leaf spring on the vehicle with the first and second roller means on one side of the leaf spring,

reinserting the annular sleeve between the frame members on a side of the leaf spring opposite the first and second roller means,

reinserting the shaft through one of the guide slots,

reengaging the pressure means with the shaft,

operating the pressure means to move the third roller means toward the first and second roller means,

thereby applying pressure to the leaf spring and rearching the leaf spring in place on the vehicle, and

operating the pressure means to move the third roller means away from the first and second roller means,

thereby relieving the pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,231 4/1873 Coleman 72-175 1,034,059 7/1912 Beeman 72175 2,165,282 7/1939 Loggins 72175 2,223,511 12/ 1940 Etten 29129 2,469,426 5/ 1949 Anthony 72703 2,583,336 1/1952 Jones 29129 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. K. C. DECKER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, D.C. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,400,565 September 10, 1968 Jimmie Ray Morris It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 34, "reaching" should read re-arching line 39, "damager" should read damaged Column 6, line 34 "for reaching" shouldread of re-arching Signed and sealed this 10th day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

